Taxi Driver Online

Cameras to help cut taxi attacks

CCTV cameras are to be fitted to taxis in a bid to cut violent attacks against drivers and fare dodgers. The hi-tech equipment will be installed free of charge in all 236 Hackney Carriages in South Tyneside.

Cabbies hope the technology, supplied by iKabs, will reduce attacks against them, and protect them from false allegations made by female passengers. The cameras, which will be paid for by advertising on a monitor inside the cab, will be officially launched next month.

Scott Moran, from Tyneside-based iKabs, said: "The great thing about iKabs is that it is supported entirely by advertising, which is displayed on a flat-screen monitor inside the taxi. "It won't cost the driver or the local authority anything, so no costs are passed on to the passenger."

The move comes just months after cabbies in South Tyneside called for CCTV to be installed in their vehicles. Dave Kennedy, manager of Bede Taxis in Sheldon Street, Jarrow, told the Gazette in January that it would be a good idea, after one of his drivers was robbed of his takings.

He said today: "The drivers want them as it means they get security without having to pay for it. "Since one of our drivers was attacked, we have a had a few companies call us, but they are asking for £600 upwards, depending on the system."

The iKabs will be fitted to the front of the vehicle and records all in-car activity on to a disk, securely placed under the driver's seat. The devices activate automatically and can't be dismantled.

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IDFIMH

Thats good news fdor south tyneside cabbies but how long is the advertising contract?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

As long as ones ass is on the line I would imagine.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

There was a similar announcement in Peterborough this week but i don't have a link to the new story or the details

Added by Admin

Fear is a funny thing it seems to depend on who owns your ass?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

It would seem this Ikabs firm is spreading its wings according to this report.
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The Sunderland Echo

August 31, 2007

Cab cams for taxis

Spy-cams are to be fitted in taxis across Sunderland in a bid to stampout violent attacks on cab drivers.

All 349 hackney carriages will receive the Big Brother-style CCTV free of charge.

As well as deterring assaults, it is hoped the technology will provide vital evidence for drivers often targeted with false accusations by passengers.

The technology - dubbed iKabs - is to be officially launched in the city next month, and is being road-tested by taxi drivers in Peterborough this week.

Ian Mills, chairman of the Park Lane Independent Hackney Carriages Association, praised the scheme and said it would make the working lives of cabbies safer.

He said: "It's an excellent idea. One or two of the drivers have even paid to have cameras installed themselves.

"We're front-line workers, we work at night and you never know who you're picking up."

Mr Mills said thankfully there were few serious incidents involving taxi drivers on Wearside, though in previous years there had been a big problem in the Hendon area.

He said the iKab cameras would guard against any future rise in problems.

"There's been cases of taxi drivers getting beaten up just for the sake of someone not wanting to pay the fare."

As well as protecting taxi drivers from violence and threatening behaviour, the iKab cameras are also there to provide evidence to defend cabbies against false accusations.

The cameras are fitted to the front of the vehicle and records all in-car activity on to a disk, securely placed under the driver's seat.

The devices activate automatically and can't be dismantled. If an incident does occur, the disk must be taken to the licencing authority to be decoded.

The cameras will also be fitted to cabs in Newcastle, Durham, North and South Tyneside.
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